Ball return for pocket-billiard tables



Sept. 2 1924. 1,507,479

J. A. HAND BALL RETURN FOR POCKET BILLIARD TABLES Filed Feb. 15 1923 *wmw Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED TATES JOHN AfI-IAND, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BALL RETURN FOR POCKET-BILLIARD TABLES.

' Application filed February 15, 1923.. Serial No. 619,091.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements I in Ball Returns for Pocket-Billiard Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ball returns for pocket billiard tables, and

the like, having pockets to receive balls employed in the playing of the game, the'object being, as the name implies, to receive the balls from the pockets and return the same to a common posit-ion at the head of the table. i

' The primary object of the invention is to rovide a generally improved ball returning evice or attachment which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture,a nd efficient in use.

A further and very important object is the provision of a device of this class which may be readily attached to and detached from any ordinary pocket billiard table without in any way altering or, hindering the table itself. 7

v A still further and very important object is the'provision ofa device for this purpose which may be'readily adjusted toconform to pocket billiard tables of widelyvarying forms and dimensions through the provision of adjustable track forming, sections each made up of spaced longitudinally extending bars connected at. their adjacentends by means :of frictionally connected guide sleeve or coupling members so that the track forming sections may be readily lengthened or shortened as required.

A still further object is the provision of improved means for attaching the track forming sections to or detaching the same from the underside of the table forming or rail members. I

With the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiments in the accompany ing drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. p

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1- is a perspective view of an ordinary pocket billiard table equipped with a' small, return device constructed in accordance with this inventlon. I

F1g. 2, an enlarged fragmentary perspect1ve view of one of the ball receiving end sect1ons, one set of track supporting and attachmg brackets being shown'in'disassembled posltlon. r

Fig. 3, an enlargedv fragmentary view,

partly in side elevation and partly in section, of one of the sleeve coupling members with the adjacent connected ends of one of the track forming rods comprised in the adustable track forming sections.

drawings.

The improved attachment or device may be readily attached to pocket billiard tables, or the-like, of any suitableand convenientform a'nd embodying the usual frame forming members or rails 1, and having the usual number and location of pockets 1*.

The improved attachment comprises suitable ball receiving track or race-ways of approximately trough shape'in cross section and extending along the sides and across the end of the table in position to receive the balls as they drop from the pockets 1*. It will therefore be understood that the pockets are open at their lower portions and the track or race-way at'eitherj side is arranged at such an inclination toward the front or starting end of the table as will direct the balls bygravity to that end.

. As a means of adjusting the ball track or Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the race-way to co'nform'to the particular dimensions of the table'to be equipped, the track-ways are made up of, longitudinally adjustable sections each comprising aplurality of properly spaced bars or rods 2 and 2 the side bars 2 forming guide members and the bottom bars 2 forming a direct support" or guide-way for supporting theballs as they travel along the ball raceway.

As a means of adjustably receiving and guiding the adjacent ends of the side" and bottom bars 2 and 2 comprised in the various track forming sections, elongated guide-sleeve members 3, are provided, said sleeve members being preferably formed of relatively thin'metal and provided at their ends with inclined or bevelled portions 3:

As a means of detachablyand adjustably connecting the. respective tracks or guide- Ways to the undersides of the frame or rail members 1, the latter are provided with relatively flat horizontally extending brackets 4:, having offset portions forming offset loops or guide Ways 4*.

As a means of properly spacing and holding and supporting the side and bottom forming rods or bars 2 and 2*, respectively, suitable hangers are provided, each of said hangers comprising a depending loop portion 5, extending about the bars or rods and a horizontally extending shank or tongue member 5*. The tongues 5 are adapted to be inserted in and to be moved relatively in th guides or loops 4? of the suspending brackets 4. The surrounding loops 5 may be provided With struck out tongues 6 to slidably receive and contain the sides of the bars or rods 2 and 2, but terminating short of the inner peripheries of the latter so as not to be engaged by the balls. The transversely extending terminal or end sections arranged at the head or starting end of the table are spaced apart and supported by suitabl brackets of the character above described and are arranged above a suitably supported receptacle or basket 7, of sufficient size to hold or contain all the balls required in playing a game upon the table.

The initial track forming adjustable sections at either side and at the foot of the table may be formed by forming the side bars 2 of a single length and bent to form a loop 2", the latter being connected to the bottom bar 2 by means of a curved sleeve 2 terminating in a connecting loop 2*.

Having thus described one of the embodiments of my invention, Without having attempted to set forth all the forms in Which it may be made, or all the modes of its use, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, i

1. In a ball return attachment for pocket billiard tables, trough shaped ball receiving 7 sections each made up of spaced bars, guide sleeves frictionally connecting said spaced bars, and suspending loop members extend ing about said bars.

2. A return device for pocket billiard tables, comprising longitudinally adjustable ball race-Ways consisting of sections of bars arranged in trough shape, and connecting sleeves adjustable over the ends of said bars between each section.

3. A return device for pocket billiard tables, comprising longitudinally adjustable ball. receiving race-Ways consisting of bars arranged in trough shape, and connecting sleeves extending over and adjustable rela tively of the ends of said bars.

4. The combination with a pocket billiard table, of a track-Way made up of adjustable sections including guide rods and adjustable coupling sleeves, and carrier clips extending about said track-Way and adjustably mounted beneath the side rails of the pool table to receive the balls through the pockets thereof.

5. In a ball return attachment for pocket billiard tables, trough shaped ball receiving sections each made up of spaced bars, adjustable guide sleeves frictionally receiving and connecting said spaced bars at their adjacent ends, and suspending loops extending about said bars and provided with clips individually engaging said bars.

6. An attachment for pocket billiard tables, comprising a ball return attachment consisting of ball receiving trough shaped sections each made up of spaced bars, guide sleeve coupling members for connecting the latter, and suspending bracket loops surrounding said bars of said trough shaped sections and terminating at their upper ends in horizontally extending bracket tonguesv adapted to be secured beneath th side and end rails of the table.

7. An attachment for pocket billiard tables, comprising a ball return attachment consisting of ball receiving trough shaped sections each made up of spaced side and bottom bars, guide sleeves tor frictionally engaging the ends of the latter, and suspending bracket loops surrounding said bars of said trough shaped sections terminating at their upper ends in horizontally .extending bracket tongues detachably and adjustably secured beneath the side and end rails of the table.

8. A ball return attachment for pocket billiard tables, comprising a plurality of ad.- justable ball receiving trough shaped sections each comprising a plurality of spaced bars, guide sleeves for connecting the adjacent ends of said sections, bracket mem- .bers beneath the rails of said pocket billiard table, and suspending bracket loops surrounding said 7 sections and adjustably mounted in said bracket. whereby said sections are suspended beneath the pockets of 1 the pocket billiard table.-

9.. A return ball attachment for pocket billiard tables, comprising a plurality of adjustable ball receiving trough shaped sections each comprising a plurality of spaced bars, guide sleeves connectingthe ad acent ends of said sections, bracket members beneath the rails of said pocket billiard table, and suspending bracket loops surrounding said bar sections and provided With tongues 2 r adjustably mounted in said brackets Whereby said' sections are suspended beneaththe pockets of the pocket billiard table. I

10. Ina ball return for pocket billiard tables, in combination With table frame members, including side and corner pockets; horizontal brackets secured beneath said frame members and provided with guide loops, depending loop members terminating in horizontally extending tongues seated in 1 said guide loops, and ball receiving sections made up of spaced side bars and an intermediate bottom bar, and coupling sleeves frictionally engaging and adjustable on the ends of said bars, said sections being arranged in an inclined position beneath said pockets.

11. In a, ball return for pocket billiard tables, in combination with the table frame members, including side and corner pockets; of brackets secured beneath said frame members and provided with ofl'set guide-Ways, suspending carrier clips comprising deceiving sections made up of spaced bars and adjustable coupling sleeves frictionally engaging the ends of the latter said sections being arranged inan inclined position beneath said pockets and terminating at their 20 lower ends in a ball receiving receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN A. HAND. 

